Page 18

Harlow

Monday Late Afternoon

Courtyard

T he fresh air had enough of a chill that I shivered and tucked myself into Hiro’s side. He didn’t complain as he wrapped an arm around me.

The last week of recovering from Vane’s torture wasn’t easy. The med drop, then change left my brain mush and my body a mess. I was falling behind in classes at this point, but so far, other than Nurse Drew giving me my daily meds, no one had come to call me out on it.

The fact I even made it out here was a huge step. But how could I resist Hiro when he asked so sweetly.

He’d been walking and reading about Helheim, trying to learn and understand everything he could. Not only to keep us safe but to know what we’re up against.

I doubted Vane would be letting this go. Whatever he’d offered the demons on his side, it had to be big.

This wasn’t going to just go away.

“Hey!” Drake’s voice was a desperate hiss as he ran over.

I’d never seen him anything but controlled. His eyes were wide and his hair looked like he’d run his hands through it countless times. When he finally reached us, he put a hand on Hiro’s shoulder to steady himself and catch his breath.

I bit back a laugh at poor Hiro’s face flaming red. They would need to face the connection between them eventually.

“Vane’s back and he’s angry.”

“Of course he is.” I sighed. “Things were too peaceful around here.”

“He’s already sending for you,” he clarified. The words had ice surging through my veins.

There was no way I was going to be alone with that man ever again. I refused.

“He can fuck all the way off,” Hiro said vehemently. A grin broke out on Drake’s face at Hiro’s outburst, but I couldn’t manage one. I’d barely survived my last encounter with him.

“You have to come with me,” I told them. My entire body shook with tremors of fear, my stomach already in knots. “Don’t make me go alone.”

Nurse Drew opened the door and peeked out, rushing our way the moment she spotted us, with Dr. Bradley on her tail. Both of them were frantic, and I had a feeling Vane was already barking orders at the staff.

“You’re to report to Dr. Vane immediately,” Nurse Drew informed me, trying to take my arm, but Drake moved in front of me. I half expected him to turn into his demon form.

I glanced over at Hiro to make sure he was alright, only to find myself face to face with Roman now. His expression was harder, more stoic, it was an easy spot at this point.

“She won’t be going near him alone,” Drake informed her.

“That’s not up to you, Drake,” Dr. Bradley said in a snide tone. “Step aside.”

“No,” I said. “After he violated and tortured me, I’d say I have enough cause to refuse to be alone with that monster.”

“Uh, y-you, c-can’t,” Nurse Drew’s stuttered words made no sense and her face had gone ghostly white. I suspected she knew what was going on, but my blunt words were forcing her to face the truth head on.

“You can work that out with him then,” Bradley said, gesturing for our group to start walking.

Not caring if it made him uncomfortable, I slipped my hand in Drake’s, then Roman’s. I needed the comfort as I went to face the man who’d caused more damage in weeks than anyone had in years, and that was fucking saying something.

Not to mention I needed the physical help to walk that far. Getting outside had taken the wind out of me, and I hadn’t managed to recover yet.

Funny how five days of torture was going to take weeks, maybe months of recovery time to heal from.

The elevator ride was tense, but the two staff members didn’t bother to say anything else to us. It wouldn’t have helped.

The moment the doors opened on the fifth floor, we were met with screams and crashing.

“Someone’s throwing a tantrum,” Drake deadpanned as he tucked me in a bit closer to his side. I felt so stupid for trembling and feeling weak, but I couldn’t just shut off the pain and mental distress he’d caused.

“What is the meaning of this?” Vane demanded as they led our group into the office, throwing a fit just as Drake predicted. It looked like a storm had raged in here, furniture upended, papers everywhere, and more than one shattered picture frame. “You can’t even follow one simple direction you incompetent fools?”

“Oh no, they demanded I come alone, I refused,” I clarified. Vane’s lip curled as he settled his gaze on me.

“You,” he spat it like a curse. “Do you know what you’ve cost me?!”

His voice trembled with rage, but Drake took one step forward and he instantly quieted down.

“Do we need to have another private chat?” Drake asked calmly. “It seems you’ve forgotten our first one.”

“How dare you speak to me that way!” Vane seethed but it was half hearted at best now. “You three are dismissed, I’ll speak with Drake and Harlow alone.”

“Like hell you will,” Roman answered. “I already know your secrets.”

Vane’s eyes narrowed.

“Go,” he ordered the other two who scampered out like their asses were on fire.

“Do you have any idea what you’ve done? What you’ve cost me?” he demanded again as he finally sat down. It was satisfying to see him covered in tight bandages and braces, every movement stunted or followed with a wince of pain.

His hands, abdomen, pelvis, all of it bound in some way. I couldn’t help the genuine smile that curled my lips.

“Don’t look so satisfied.”

“Just because your scars are on the surface doesn’t absolve you of your crimes against me,” I reminded him in the coldest voice I could muster. With the other two by my side, it was a lot easier to grasp onto my anger and let it take hold. “You’ve paid for your mistake, and you won’t touch another patient here.”

“I’ve already handled your hallway. You may as well transfer that nurse, she has no one left to watch over,” Drake said. The vein on Dr. Vane’s forehead pulsed with anger, his entire face purplish-red with rage.

We’d officially derailed everything he’d built. His demon horde had no one left to feed on day and night.

“That won’t stop us,” he ground out, spit flying as he punctuated the words. He was more unhinged than half of the patients here. “In fact, we’ll be doubling our efforts. Watch in defeat as your world crumbles around you and I win.”

The maniacal laughter that followed had Drake turning and pulling us out of the room.

“He’s fucking lost it, but this can’t be good,” he hissed out. “We have to tell your monster. Call Ivar.”

“Monty,” I corrected. The snort of laughter from Drake had both of us cracking up while Roman looked at us like we’d lost our minds. “What, that’s his name to me.”

“Only you would give the fucking Commander of Helheim a fucking nickname like Monty. Where did that even come from?” Drake demanded with a snort of laughter.

The sight of a broken Vane was enough to lift his spirits to a level I’d never seen. It made me wonder what Drake would be like without the pressure of this place.

“I honestly can’t remember. That was a rough time,” I admitted, then grinned so I wouldn’t dwell on the past. “It fits him, though.”

He shook his head at me but didn’t disagree.

Once Roman got us on the elevator, I called out to Monty. He popped in, crowding the elevator enough we were forced to squish ourselves together to fit.

Before he could say anything, Drake spoke. “We just had a visit with Vane. He’s back and is now saying that whatever he’s doing with the demons they’re doubling down their efforts. He’s not even hiding it now. Meaning something is about to go down. Warn Hel.”

He nodded once before popping out, and I blinked in surprise.

No snark or verbal sparring matches?

What the fuck was going on?

“So, who’s hungry?” Drake asked. He looked a bit unsettled after Monty’s lack of response but was forging ahead anyway. I’d give it to Drake, he didn’t let anything throw him off for long. “We need food regardless, and we should probably warn the others about what might be coming. Make sure you let Hiro know, too, Roman.”

“Of course,” Roman said. “I’d never leave him vulnerable.”

Drake nodded before hitting the button for the basement, taking us to the cafeteria. We’d be one of the first for the dinner line, but I wasn’t complaining. It definitely beat fighting through the crowds of people to get to our table.

“What do you think he’s going to do? Are the patients here safe?” I asked as we walked toward the cafeteria doors. Drake let out a sigh.

“Doubtful. But we can’t protect them all,” he countered.

“What happened to the other patients that were in that wing with me?” He glanced over at my question as if he were deciding whether to tell me the truth.

“I moved them to the sixth floor. The nurse there is an old friend, and that floor is for long-term help. They’ll fit in there while they recover. Then who knows.”

“Good,” I said. “I met someone on that floor. A demon was bothering a woman and I chased it out. Or rather Monty did before he disappeared again. I stayed with her until sunrise.”

Drake froze at my words.

“What? She was crying and I couldn’t take it,” I said.

Something passed on his face but like usual when shit got heavy, he just shoved open the door and walked away.

We followed behind him but didn’t push the subject as we gathered our food and sat down.

Of course that was when everyone else filed in, including Layne and Crew who were holding hands.

“They worked shit out,” Drake noted with a nod in their direction. I grinned as she leaned up and kissed him, an adorable smile on his face when she pulled away.

Of course, someone made a comment so she flipped them off and said something, forcing Crew to pull her away with him instead of starting a fight.

“They’re good together,” I said before taking a bite of my pizza. I hadn’t noticed how fucking hungry I was; soon there was nothing left of my pizza or breadsticks. Hell, I’d even polished off my salad.

“Here,” Roman said before dropping his food on my plate and going back up to the line for more. My second round was gone before he even got back, and I leaned back, clutching my stomach.

“What’s wrong with you?” Layne asked as she took the seat next to me, shoving Roman’s tray aside. Crew sat on the other side, both of them looking at me with a hint of worry.

“I ate too fast,” I said with a laugh.

“Oh, we heard Vane wanted to see you, I was freaked out he tried something else,” Layne admitted. “But also kind of excited. I got these new boots and I really wanted to break them in. What better way than Vane’s face?”

“We went with her, so nothing happened,” Drake said. “But he’s in a mood. Don’t go anywhere alone, even if you have to get one of us. Especially Vane’s office. Though he can’t do much with a broken dick, the man’s already covered in bandages.”

“Okay,” she agreed without hesitation before laughing. “I’m glad someone finally kicked his ass. Maybe things won’t be so heavy around here for a bit.”

“Crew and I were going to sneak away tonight to the boiler room. Can you cover for us?”

“How romantic,” I snorted.

“Oh, don’t worry, it will be,” Layne wiggled her eyebrow, so we all knew exactly what her plan was.

“Plus, fire,” Crew said. His hands were tapping at the table like he couldn’t wait to get down there.

“Where is the boiler room?” I asked. “I thought it was just the cafeteria down here.”

Crew grinned. “We really need to take you on the real tour of this place. The hidden secrets of Dark Haven.”

“Oh, I know some of those secrets a bit too well,” I said with a dark laugh. “Did you know Vane had a hallway he kept patients in? That’s why you guys couldn’t find me.”

“I didn’t,” Crew admitted. He almost looked angry at himself. “But we avoid the staff hallway out of principle.”

“That makes sense. I’m glad we know now, who knows what else he’s hiding in this place,” I said with a sigh.

“This building was an actual school before it became a hospital. A boarding school, that’s why it’s called Dark Haven Institute instead of institution,” Layne supplied. It was random but not at all surprising for her.

“What does that have to do with secrets?” Roman asked. She rolled her eyes at him.

“Everything,” she said as if that answered the question. “That’s why it’s so big and why there’s whole areas we don’t have access to, like a library they keep us out of.”

“Where’s that?” I asked with sudden interest. “And why, if we do classes here, wouldn’t we need access to their library?”

“It’s on the second floor, east wing,” she explained. “They store records in there, too, that’s how I found it. Who wouldn’t want to see their file?”

“Dark Haven hasn’t been a school in like a hundred years,” Crew pointed out. “Those books would be useless to us now.”

“But the records wouldn’t,” I countered. “We might be able to dig something up on Vane or Bradley we can use against them. I’m not above blackmail at this point to keep myself safe.”

“Then we go tomorrow night, that’s when Corey is on security and he falls asleep,” Layne said with an excited clap of her hands. “This will be fun.”

“We’ll likely get caught,” Roman pointed out.

“So, stay behind,” Layne suggested with a grin. He grunted at the challenge, and I bit back a laugh, knowing he’d definitely be joining us. Roman might seem like a big, strong, indifferent protector, but he had a curiosity that could rival mine. And honestly, I loved having him with me as much as Hiro. They were all quickly becoming important to me. “But then you’ll never have answers as to what’s in your file.”

“I bet Hiro would be curious,” I added. We’d talked about how he couldn’t remember other personalities, maybe it would give him some answers his psychiatrist wouldn’t.

Then again, if his psych was Dr. Bradley, he likely didn’t know. The man was incompetent.

“Alright, we go to bed like usual tomorrow, then sneak out while the night nurse goes on her smoke break. The stairwell would be safer,” Drake said. The others went back to their food, but I couldn’t stop thinking about what else Dark Haven could possibly have hidden.

Though, the real question is, what is Vane planning, and how the fuck do we stop him before he destroys us all?